The Association of Generals and Flag Officers (Agfo) had a fellowship
meeting on Feb. 22, 2017, at Agfo Center, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City,
with Secretary Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr., national security adviser and
director general of the National Security Council, on the subject
'National Security Policy and Direction under the Duterte
Administration.'

In the meeting, General Esperon announced that President Duterte has
approved the implementation of the Reserve Officers Training Corps
(ROTC) program in all colleges and universities.

In the past, the ROTC basic course (two years) was a mandatory
requirement for graduation in college. However, with the National
Service Training Program (NSTP) the ROTC became an option among other
courses. Under the NSTP, a three-day seminar conducted in a camp,
costing P2,250 and a T-shirt, can substitute for a two-year ROTC program
to comply with the requirement for in-service training prior to
graduation.

This is what happened last month where 15 students and a driver died
in a vehicular accident in Tanay, Rizal. There are lots of objections to
the ROTC program: For example, it is said to be all drill, marching and
hazing. Not so. The truth is, whether it is ROTC or NSTP, if not
properly managed, corruption will creep in.

In my letter to the Inquirer ('ROTC, the cheapest source of
reserve force,' 8/25/16), I cited the benefits of the ROTC program
of which I am one of the beneficiaries. The ROTC program, aside from
being the cheapest source of reserve force which can be used during
national emergencies and in responding to calamities, instills in our
youth the value of loyalty, patriotism and discipline, and develops
leadership qualities and esprit de corps among cadets.

Partly addressing our national security concern, President Duterte
convened the National Security Council (NSC). Believe it or not, former
president Benigno Aquino III never convened the NSC during his entire
term.

I thank President Duterte for his political will; something other
presidents failed to exercise. I salute him.

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